Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-26
THE RED COATS.


twenty-four guns, under command of Capt.
Charles Morris, put into Penobscot bay, on
the coast of Maine, for the purpose of taking
In provisions and water The Adams had
recently captured several British vessels, and
had on board sixty prisoners, sailors and
officers, and it was Capt. Morris intention to
dispose of them by shutting them up in the
Jail at Wiscasset, until they should be e1.
changed.
The weather was very thick and foggy that
morning, and, by blunder Of the pilot, the
vessel was run ashore on Isle au Haut. and
only got off, in a leaky condition, by tighten
ing. 1t was then decided to go up to Penob-
scot, past Castine, for repairs. The prisoners,
and twenty-five Of the ships crew, sick OF
scurvy, were therefore landed at Camden,
then a small coast village, and turned over to
the town officers, with request to march the
captives to Jail, and to give the Yankee
sailors the best Accommodations possible.
1t was heavy demand TO make of so small
town. Many of the men were away, either
at sea or in the army, and it was difficult to
get together sufficient guard Meantime,
some of the prisoners were wandering about
the village, going where they pleased, having
good humoredly promised Lieut. Hanford, of
the militia company, to go with him to Wis
casset "when he got his men together"
Among the officers were five whose names
have come down to us as Eamesbury, Dali
ton, Church, Evans and Wildes. The five,
forming a little group, kept together, and
went around from store to store, indulging
their appetite for liquor. All of them, and
Church in particular, had been hard drinkers
on their own ship But their supply of liquor
had been cnt off when they were captured,
and now they were making up for their en-
forced abstinence by having spree.
Church had already been more than once
on the verge of that terrible disease, delirium
tremens, and now his excessive indulgence
was too much for him. He fell down in the
street in a horrible paroxysm, and few
hours later expired in great agony. He was
buried that same afternoon in the church.
yard of the hamlet. Many of the people Of
the town, as well as most Of the prisoners, at
tended the funeral, and they all fraternized
together as though they had been fellow
countrymen, and not enemies.
After the services Lieut.. Hanford addressed
the British, and babe them all come to the
meeting house at o'clock that evening, and
be ready to start for Wiscasset He had by
that time succeeded in getting together about
twenty msn to act as guard.
To this proposition the prisoners agreed !;
then went off, wandering again among the
houses and shops.
While the prisoners were getting their sup
per, Eamesbury and his three fellow officers
above mentioned fell in with well known
pilot of the bay, of whom we will here speak
us Pilot T, for at this distance of time no
good end will be served by giving his real
name. From this man they learned that tho
British were then in possession of the town Of
Passport, farther along the coast, and that it
would not be very difficult exploit to escape
to them there.
The poor fellows naturally preferred this
prospect to that of going to Jail at Wiscasset,
end Immediately made the pilot an offer Of
all their money to take them to their country.
men at Eastport in his sailing boat.
To perform such a service, however, would
be high treason, and punishable with death.
Pilot T hesitated, but the sight of several
doubloons finally induced him to risk it.
Going hastily down to the shore, they embark
ed under cover of some bushes and pulled
away.
They were not observed, and might have
got safely way but for that unfortunate love
for strong liquors, which has, in all times,
brought so many fine fellows to grief. The
prospect of long 'dry" trip to PASSPORT was
80 unpleasant that, when a little way below
Negro Island, they put ashore again, and
Evans, at Pilot rs suggestion, went to a
house at some distance in the hope of pur.
chasing quart Of rum.
Meantime it was past o'clock, and the
four officers had been missed when the rest OF
the prisoners assembled in front of the meet
ing house. A squad of Lieut.. Hanford's little
company was dispatched to look them up
Word having reached the squad that q
''red coat" had been seen going across lots to
the house above mentioned, the nlilitiamen
ran thither, and captured the luckless Evans
just as he was settling for his quart of liquor
Before they could reach the beach where the
boat lay, however, Pilot T either saw
them, or took the hint, and put off with the
other three fugitives.
The breeze had fallen, but they all foul
bent to the oars, and made the best rate OF
speed possible. The pilot was now even more
anxious than the Britons themselves to avoid
capture,
Tidings of the fight were soon sounded
through the village; a crowd collected at the
| wharf, where a new and fast sailing boat be
longing to one Dick Conway was speedily
| manned to go in pursuit of the runaways Tht
| party in the boat consisted of Capt Asher
Palmer. Dick Conway, and three sailor
named Robbins, Tarr and Brown, five al
| together, armed with muskets.
1t was now about sunset. The five mer
pulled out of the harbor, and soon sighted the
| objects of their pursuit well down toward
| Deer Island Pilot T, fearing a chase
L. Ill, lx- o,,I
| q most exciting race. The Englishmen, firet
with a hope of liberty, and Pilot T, dread
| ing halter, pulled desperately at their oars
and sent their boat onward at rapid rate.
But Capt. Palmer had an extra man in hi
| boat; and, moreover, the members of his crew
| were all expert oarsmen. His boat, too, wa
lighter and more easily propelled through th'
| water. The pursueIs gained steadily on th'
| fugitives, gradually reducing the distance Il
about 500 yards. Both boats were now of
Edgemaroggon beach, when, with q fina
squirt, Palmer and his sailors brought thei
boat up opposite the pilots, distant not NOR
than twenty yards from it
Thus far not a word had been said nor
| hail exchanged; it had been a hard, grim
silent race. But Capt. Palmer now stood up
| and cooking musket, commanded Pilot T
| to stop rowing, or he would shoot him A
| neither T nor any Of the officers hal
weapons of any kind, resistance on their par
was out of the question.
| They reluctantly surrendered.
| The boats were laid alongside: and withou
much ceremony all four of the fugitiyee wero
tied with ropes by their captors.
II don't blame you red coats so much, q
claimed Palmer, "but you, T, will have 4
swing for this trick, and no mistake abou
itls
| II expecty so- c-r1Inlhled the uilot GBu